Method of treating plastic material.



4 t 3 \s n I l o l @h M l i: Q :11 I Q, Q m 4 Q No. 816,385. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906. A. A. SCOTT.

l6 llllIlIl/llll/lll No. 816,385. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

A. A. SCOTT. METHOD OF TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1905- 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

A. A. SCOTT. METHOD OF TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED our. 12, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

s SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

A. A. SCOTT.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.12, 1905.

\\ E \d v Q E N w METHOD OF TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL.

METHOD OF TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1905,

A. A. SCOTT.

PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No. 816,385. PATENT-ED MAR. 27, 1906. A. A. SCOTT.

METHOD OF TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED 0012-12, 1905.

6 SHEETS- SHEET 6.

UNITED 'srArEs PATENT orrron ALEXANDER ANDERSON SCOTT, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

METHOD OF TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented March 27. 1906.

Application filed October 12,1905- Serial No; 282,414.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER ANDER- soNSooT'r, a citizen of the United States, residin at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and tate of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Treating Plastic Material, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement relates generallyto methods of treating clay and analogous plastic material for the manufacture of brick, tile, and

. analogous artificialproducts requirin g drying to clays from which bricks may be formed sufiiciently firm to permit piling or setting in a kiln as high as is ordinarily desired for burning. Approximately seventy -five per cent.-of the brick manufactured in this country are made from stiff, clays. Throughout this specification the description relates, primarily,

to the manufacture of clay products-from such stifi clays, and, secondarily, to the manufacture of clay products from such soft clays. I

Blocks of clay for the 'manufacture'of brick and analogous products are formed from clay which has been rendered plastic and cohesive by mixing it with enough water to make it moist or wet, and such blocks are said to befwet or green. Before these blocks, so formed, can be burned the water which they contain must be eliminated from them. Heretofore in the manufacture of stiff-clay brick this has usually been done in two steps, the first of said steps being the slow drying at a relatively low temperaturefrom approximately 100 to 600 F ahrenheitw i la the brick are set upon each other in from necessary to limit the number of courses because the blocks are plastic and are not able to withstand any considerable pressure without changing shape on account of said pressure) until the plasticity of the bricks is sufficiently reduced to adapt them to resist the downward pressure incident to setting for burning, and the second step being the placing of -the bricks into a kiln and after being set as high as is desired for burning subjecting them to ahigher drying heat, ranging from 500- to 1,000 Fahrenheit, until the remnant of water not eliminated by the first step of dryin has been eliminated. This second step 0 drying is by some manufacturers called water-smoking.

In a general way it may be stated that the green brick are subjected to currents of air or other gaseousmedium which are capable of taking up moisture from said blocks and carrying said moisture away, whereby the 4 amount of moisture contained by said blocks is gradually more and more reduced. For the sake of convenience'in description said air or other gaseous medium may be termed drying air" or a drying gaseous medium.

moisture varies to a large extent with the temperature of the gaseous medium, and the rapidity with which said moisture is eliminated om said blocks .must vary according saturated with moisture, so that they can take but little more moisture than they already hold. Some manufacturers perform this first-step of. drying by exposing the bricks in low piles to the sunlight and to nat ural currents of air at normal temperature; but according to the prevailing practice said bricks are la1d or set on trucks in a lnnto variations in the quality of the clay. F or Such capability to absorb and carry away In some inited number of courses and on said trucks put into an inclosure or structure, termed a drier, and there subjected to currents of air at a relatively low temperature-from approximately to 600 Fahrenheit-'- until the plasticity of the. bricks has been sufliciently reduced to permit setting to the about five to ten tiers or courses (it being hei ht desiredforbur1iing-from about thirty to fty courses high. Such method is undesirable', because'it necessitates expenditure from the machine into for the construction and maintenance of the driers and requires extra handling of the bricks, and the method is not ada ted to the mechanical handling of the brick direct from the machine to the kiln, and because there is loss of heat in transferring the brick fromthe drier into the kiln.

The object of my invention is to reduce the cost of mechanicalequipment, to reduce the handling of the brick, to allow such handling to be to the largest extent mechanical direct the kiln, and to avoid such loss of heat in the passing of the brick from the drier into the kiln.

By my improved method the drier is altogether dispensed with, and the bricks are set in the kiln direct from the machine in the green or wet state and are not again moved until they have been both dried and burned.

By way of general description it may be stated that my improved method involves the generating of a stream of said material in the green state and conducting said stream into the kiln, severing the materialof said stream into blocks, setting the green or wet blocks in the kiln in a group, belt, or zone to only such height as will avoid crushing the lower of said blocks, then dryin said blocks, and thereby rendering them su ciently firm to support greater pressure from above; then setting upon the group, belt, or zone of blocks thus dried another group, belt, orzone of green blocks; then drying the blocks of said second group, belt, or zone; then setting a third group, belt, or zone of green or wet blocks, upon said second group; then dryin .said third group, and so on until the total eight of all said groups aggregates the height desired for the burning of said blocks.

For the sake of economy the ractice of my method may, if so des1red,-a so include the utilization of the heated air, termed waste heat charged kiln during the coolin riod after the charge has been burned, an tliia products of combustion coming from a charged kilnduring the burning period, said heated air or sa 1d products of combustionbeing drawn through suitable ducts into a kilnor'comartment of a kiln in which a group of green iiriek has been set ready for dryin As to economy it'may be noted t at by my improved method the saving of labor after the stream of plastic materia leaves the machine is fully fifty per cent. Besidesthis item there is a savin ofiheat. Furthermore, the cost of mec ani'cal equipment is reduced approximately one-half.

My improved method may be practiced or carried out by various mechanical means. As examples of such means I refer to paratus illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a general plan of an apparatus comprising three two-comward the left.

-tionuof anot er form of kiln.

in this art, coming from a,

the appartment kilns and apower-house and a purtenances. Fig. 2 is a detail plan of t e discharge end of the brick-machine and the adjacent portion of the conveyor. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking to- Fig. 4 is a transverse upright section of one-half of one of said kilns on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a sectional lan of one of the compartments of one of said kilns. Fig.6 is an elevation of the right-hand wall of said compartment as shown in Fig. 5, the right-hand portion being sectional. 7 is an upright sectionaldetail showing a bagwall applied to the kiln illustrated by Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a side elevation illustrating'the arrangement of groups and group-sections. Fig. 9 is a plan of the group shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail end elevation showing the manner of applyin the aprons to be hereinafter described. 11 1s a'simil'a'r detail showing another manner of applying. said aprons. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional eleva tion illustrating the construction of a bagwall from the brick constituting the charge or mass of brick being set in the kiln. Fig. 13 is a detail plan of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a kiln. Fig. 16

plan" of a portionof the same 7 1s a section similar to Fig. 4, showing a different arrangement of the covers for guiding the drying gaseous medium.

Referring to said drawings, 1 is a boiler in which steam is generated to afford power for operating the mechanism involved in the practics of the method. 4- is a-steam-engine receiving steam from the boiler 1 throu h the pipe 3. and transmitting power by a be t 5 to the line-shaft 6. a

A machine 9 receives power from said linee t 8. Said machine v shaft by means of a b generates a stream 10 of the plastic material 11 the een state, said stream being ex elled throng the die or-mouthpiece- 11, an said stream is carried thence on the conveyor 12 into one .of the kiln chambers A. At any desired point the material of said stream 1s Fi 1:4 is a transverse upright secloo severed transversely into blocks of the desired size. This may be doneby a cuttingmachine 1-3 0p era-ting uponsaid. stream. Said conveyer preferabl extends through the entire length of said Kiln-chamber in order that the stream be conducted uninterruptedly from the ma- .chine 9' directly to the places at which the blocks cut from said'stream are to beset for drying and burning.

A rotary fan 14 is driven in any suitable manner. In a chamber 16, communicating with said fan, is a heating-coil '16, taking steam from the boiler 1 through. the i-pe 17.

underground duct 18 extends eneath the chamber 16. and o ens into the latter-between the coil 16 an the fan-chambzer. In

the duct leis placed a damper 22, h my of plastic material may be closed for cutting off said duct from the. chamber 16. Opposite said chamber 16 is an" inlet-opening 23, provided with a gate 24. From the fan 14 a flue 25 leads'to the underground ducts or flues S, which extend into the kiln-chambers A, and immediately beyond each junction between the duct 25 and one of the ducts S said duct 25is provided with a damper 26 and said duct S is provided with a damper 27.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, A is a kiln-chamber formed by a floor B, side walls C and D, end walls E E, and an arched crown F. Along the outer side of the base of the lateral wall C are arranged a series of furnaces G, which communicate with said chamber A through flues H. The wall D comprises chimneys or stacks I, open at the top and communicating with thechamber A through a port J at the bottom of the stack. Said wall also comprises a series of fiues K, located between the stacks I and communicating nit-h the chamber A through orts L at different elevations. The stacks I may be closed wholly or in part-by laying a plate or slab ll upon the top of each of said stacks, and the lines K may be similarly rendered inoperative .by placing plates or slabs N upon t em and also by closing the ports L with suitable plates, dampers, or bricks O. The crown F may be provided with any desired number of ports P, and saidports maybe closed at Wlll by means of plates or lids At each end of the kiln access is had to the chamber A through a wicket or door R. Along the base of the lateral wall C the'duct S is formed below the, level of the floor Band provided with an arch T, having apertures U. Said duct is in communication with the main duct 25, as already described. The a ertures U' of said duct S may be closed by pacing bricks thereon. Beneath the floor.- evel of each chamber A and adjacent and arallel to the wall D is a duct or flue 28,, hav mg floor-openings 30, and the duct 18 extends along the ends of the kilns, and each such tlue 2S communicates with said flue 18 through a gate 31.

. The operation 18 as follows: The furnaces G being cold and the fines H, leading therefrom into the chamber A, being closed, horizontal tiers of brick a are set upon the floor B just as brick from the drier are ordinarilyset D in such a kiln preparatory to burning, space beingleft between the pile of'brick and the wall 0; but the number of layers is limited, according to the plasticity of said brick. In

other words, said brick are set only as high as they would be in a drier-from about five to ten high-if they are of stiff clay in order that the bricks in the lower layers may not be pressed out of shape by the weight of the superposed layers. Now a cover' I) is placed upon the brick thus piled, said cover p5 extending from one side wall to the other and j from one end wall to the other, so that said brick are isolated in. a compartment in the lower portion of thechamber, A. All of said cover is preferably pliable paper-excepting l the portion 0 which extends over the space between the brick and the side wall 0, which portion is preferably of rigid paper and may be sheet metal or other rigid material. The said group of bricks being thus isolated by means of said sheet-form material, which is combustible or removable, all the ports L above the cover I) are preferably closed.

Now the damper 22 being closed and the'gate 24 being open, by-means of the fan 14 air is drawn .through the inlet 23 and the steam coil in the chamber 16 and driven thence through the duct 25 and the ductS of said chamberA and through the apertures U in the arch T of'said duct. On issuingi'rom said apertures the air passes horizontally across the chamberA'beneath the cover b and enters the ports J and. all the ports L which are located below said cover I) and passes thence upward through the flues' K and the stacks 1 into the atmosphere. This portion of-the operation is continueduntil adapt them to sustain the weight of the-additional brick to be set upon them. Then the section 0 of the cover I) is removed and an. apron dextended downward from the adjacent edge of the remaining portion of the cover I) to the floor B and close to the upright faces of the adjacent brick. By this means the; group already dried is isolated from the air issuing from the duct S. Said apron is preferably of paper, and the edges of said. apron may be secured in any desired manner. Fig. 10 of the drawings shows said edges held by the lowermost and uppermost brick of the adjacent groups, the lower edge being engaged when the group to which said apron is to be applied is started. Instead of securing the edges of the aprons d as above described said aprons may be suspended. by cords (1., Fig. 11, suitably fastened above. When this is done, the curtain may be of material other than paper, and bars d should be attached to the upper and lower edges of the apron tostretch and give weight to the apron. Now the ports L, which are to be opposlte the second group of brick, are opened. Then a group of green or wet brick are set upon the dried'or partially-dried first group which is beneath said cover I), tier'after tier, approXi mately as high as said first group. Then another cover I) is placed over this second group said first group, and the coversection c is so laid as to become a part of the second cover I) just as it was a part of the first cover Ii Then the current of warm air is again driven through the duct S, and, as is obvious from an inspection of the drawings, the warm air will rise between the apron cl and the wall 0 said brick have been sufliciently dried to of brick just as the first cover I; was placed on I and pass thence horizontally through said second and through adjacent ports L and the fines K. This ortion of the operation is continued until the brick of said second group have been sufficiently dried. Then the coversection 0 is again removed and a second apron (1 extended om the adjacent upper edge of said second group of brick downward to or below the u per edge of the first apron d, and the ports E between the then uppermost cover I) and the plane of the next cover 6 to be laid are opened. Then another group of brick is set upon the then upper cover 6- and covered with a cover 6, comprising the coversection 0, and the current of warm air is again driven through said duct and allowed to rise through the passage formed by the wallO on the one side and the aprons d (Z on the other side and moves then horizontally through the third group of brick and through the-ports L, whichv are located between the then u permost covers I) b, and through the fines This portion of the O)GI'iLl3l011 is continued until the brick of sai third section are sufficiently dried. If there is still room in the upper portion of the chamber A for more brick, additional groups of brick are set in and dried,'as already described of the first, second, and third groups. When the kiln has been thus fully charged, the coversection 0, (if it is metallic,) the aprons, (if removable,) and the conveyor are removed from the kiln. In closed kilns the cover for the uppermost group ma be omitted. If the brick are not completely dried in the successi'v'e groups, then for the complete drying of the entire mass of brick air or other gaseous medium may be delivered from the duct S at a higher temperature-from approximately 500 to 1,000 Fahrenheit.-' If the heat of the latter course is the said air is not suflicient to ignite the paper covers or walls I) and aprons (1, they may be ignited by other means, as by making a temporary fire in one or more of the furnaces G and opening. the corresponding flues H, it being desirable to eliminate said aprons and covers in order that the drying-air may move freelythrou hthe'e'ntire mass of brick. However, if so esired, the covers I) may be allowed to remain during the second drying step, the warm air being made to move horizontall through the entire mass; but it may be pre erable in some cases to perform the second step of drying by ous roducts of the combustion carried on in furnaces G. Then said step is what is termed in this art water-smoking. When is closed by closing the damper 27 and the furnaces G opened and moderate fires started in said furnaces, the moderately-heated gase ous products of from said furnaces through the fines H into the chamber A. The covers b and aprons d group of brick between said cover I),

the heat of the gase-,

to be pursued, the duct S- oombustion being directed.

brick have been completely dried, whether by warm and hot air alone or by warm air and products of combustion at moderate temperature, and after the fiues K have been closed by placing the plates N thereon the entire mass of brick is burned by subjecting it to the high or intense heat of the gaseous products of combustion coming from stron fires in the furnaces G through the fines f said products passing out of the chamber A.

through the stacks I alone, or through said stacks and through the crown-ports P, or through the duct 28 when said products are to be used hereinafter which said mass of brick is subjected by the passing of said products of combustion may for the purpose of description be termed a burning heat. p

As a modification of the operation above described the horizontal cover I) may be removed after the drying of each group of brick and laid upon the next h gher group after the latter has been set into position; but

it will probably be preferable in most casesto allow said cover to remain in order that it may prevent the warm air from moving downward from the the dried brick below. It will be observed that when said covers are left in pos tion as the groups of brick are set successively upon each other-said covers form horizontal passages to which the movement of the airi's confined.

as above described the edge of each horizontal cover b adjacent the lateral wall D As another modification of the operation in another chamber A, as will be described. The mtense heat to group of green brick into may be left a short distance from said wall and the ports P in the crown F be left open, Fig. 16. Then the warm air after passing horizontally through the group of green brick will rise between the wall D and the adjacent edge of the upper horizontal cover I) and pass'out of the chamber A through said crown-ports P. When this course is adopted, the tops of the flues K and Imay be closed and the cover I) laid close to the wall I) on each groupafter such group has been dried and the aprons d omitted, for when said lines are closed and the covers on the dried groups extend to the wall I) there will be no movement of gases through the dried groups even if they are open at the front.

As a further modification of upri ht walls e of sheet-form said operation materlal may be p aeed at intervals between the brick con stitnting a horizontal group in order that the air may be more effectively confined. to a transverse movement. (See Figs. 8 and 9.) It will be seen that said walls 6 divide each group into sections which are located side by side. Said transverse sheet Walls may also consist of paper or other combustible material in order that they may be consumed when'the furnaces are fired, and by the use of said upright sheet-form partitions or walls 2 the operation of setting green bricks and drying others may be simultaneously and progressivel carried on in the same com-' partment o the kiln. For example, at one end of the kiln green brick may be set for the forming of a group to extend when completed throughout the length of the kiln, and as soon as enou h of said brick are set to form a section 0 said group a cover I) and apron d and a transverse partition-wall 2 may be put into position to form a compartment'to inclose said section and (the ductapertures U outside of said section being closed) a current of warm air may be made to flow through said section, and while said flow is progressm' the setting of said group may be continue until another section is completed and similarly closed, (and the duct-apertures opposite said section opened.) Then the warm air is also made to fiow through said section. may be added to said group and air admitted thereto until said group extends overthe entire kiln-floor. Then a second group may be similarly set in sections upon the first group, beginning at the end at which the first roup was begun, and after placing an apron 5 over the front of the first group turning the warm air into each section as the setting and inclosing thereof are completed.

As a substitute for the aprons d a bag-wall X maybe built up between the groups a and the kiln-wall C,(see Figs. 12 and 13,) extra green bricks Y being placed upon each green group a sufficient to build (when dried) in front of said group enough of said bag-wall to cover the adjacent face of said group. By following this method all the dried groups are closed at the front to such extent as may be desired, (the flash-wall 1r ay be left more or'less open,) while the green group is not covered by the flash-wall and can therefore readily receive the heated gaseous medium rising along the inner face of the wall C. l Vhen said flashwall is used, pilasters C are preferably placed along the inner face of the wall C to give lateral support to said flash-Wall, the openings U above the duct S being placed between said pilasters.

For economical work the setting of green' brick should be maintained uninterruptedly. This can be done by conducting the stream of plastic material alternately into two kilncompartments, setting a group of green brick in" one compartment, then subjecting saidl Thus one section after another group to the action of a drying agent, and meanwhile conducting saidstream of plastic material into another compartment and there setting another group, then subjecting that group to the action of a drying agent, and again conducting said stream into the first compartment and there setting a second group of brick while said group in the second compartment is being subjected to the drying agent, and soon until the two c'ompartments have been charged, and when two such compartments have been filled with brick and said brick have been dried ready for burning the fires in the furnaces for said compartments may be started and two other compartnients may be similarly charged by setting and drying groups of green brick therein alternately, such drying being accomplished by conducting the products of combustion from said first two compartments through each group of green brick in said second two compartments. When the apparatus is in the form illustrated by the drawings, said products of combustion are drawn from said first two compartments into said second two compartments by means of the fan 14. If said first two compartments are the comp artments of the kiln at the left in Fig. 1, the products of combustion after passing through the kiln enter the ducts 30 and are drawn thence into the duct 18 and through the latter to the fan, the damper 22 being open and the gate 24 being closed, and from the fan said products pass through the duct '25 to firstone and then the other duct S of the mid- 10o dle kiln of Fig. 1, the dampers 27 of the lefthand kiln being closed and the dampers '26- opposite said kiln being open and the dampers 27 and 26 opposite said middle kiln being suitably changed to conform to the alterna- 10 5 tions of the Work in said kiln. When the air heated by the cooling of the mass of burned brick in a compartment is to be used as the drying'agent for the green brick being set in another compartment, the furnaces of said compartment containing the burned brick may be left open for the ingress of air and the air entering said doors drawn through the mass of brick in'said compartment and delivered to anothercompartment in which groups of brick are being set and dried by the course taken by the products of combustion last-above described. Ordinarily such heated air-termed waste heat, thus taken from one compartment is approximately sufficient r 20 1 to dry the brick constituting the charge of 1 another compartment of equal capacity.

1 Hence it will be seen that if a brick plant cons'ists of a considerable number of kiln-compartmentsc. 9., six or eightthe products 12 5 of combustion and the waste heat are ordinarily ample for the drying of the green brick. 'It will be observed that if the plant comprises eight compartments the operation of setting may go on in two of said compartments while the operation of burning goes on in another two compartments, and the operation of cooling goes on in another two compartments, and the operation of ,removing completed brick is going on in still another two compartments. 7

As a further modification of said method the brick may be set in the kiln in successive superposed groups without the covers I) and the first group subjected to a drying heat by the passing of warm air or other gaseous medium upward through thefirst group when only the. latter has been set, then through the first and second groups after only these have been set, and then through the first, second, and third groups after only these have been set, and so on after each additional group has been set.

A kiln specially adapted for the practice of my improved method thus modified is illustratcd by Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings. In said kiln an air-ductfis located beneath the level of the floor and midway between the side walls C and D and has branches g extending transversely almost to each of said walls 0 and D. Said duct and its branches have apertures 7i opening into the chamber A. From this duct and its branches .any desired quantity of warm air or similar gaseous medium may be made to rise through amass of brick located upon the floor of said kiln.

It will be observed that when the method is thus modified the duration of ex osure of each group of brick increases from t e uppermost downward in arithmetical ratio. If, for example, there are four such groups, the

fourth will be subjected to the drying-air dur- 1 ing one period, the third will be subjected to the drying-air during two periods, the second during three periods, and the first during four periods. This exposure to warmth, it will be observed, is a proximately proportional to the weight w ich the brick of the several groups must sustain, for the brick of the first group must sustain a portion of the weight of that group plus the three superposed groups, while each of the superposed groups must support one group less than the group next beneath it. Hence by this modification of the method the entire mass of brick may be rendered self-supporting with gate minimum of drying.

While I have illustrated closed kilns, it is to be noted that the method may be practiced in open-top kilns.

I claim as my invention 1. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed grou s, each successive group being subjected to tlie action of an artificiallymoved drying agent before another group is set tl'iereon; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature,

an aggredrying agent while forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups; each successive group being subjected to the action of an artificiall moved drying agent before another group is set thereon; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a moving, drying gaseous medium; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups; each successive group 8 5 being su jected to an artificially-moved, drying gaseous medium before another group is set thereon; andthen subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a gaseous medium of a higher temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

4. The herein-described method of treating lastic material, which method consists in orming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed roups, each successive group being subjected to an artificially and horizontally moving, drying gaseous medium before another roup is set thereon; and then subjecting'the entire mass of said blocks to a gaseous medium of a hi her temperature, substantially as and for t e purpose herein described.

5. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in torming said material, in the green sta'te, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a series of groupsections horizontally beside each other to form a group, subjecting each of said sections to the action of an artificially-moved an adjacent section is being set, and then superposim additional roup-sections of such green bloc s upon said first group and subjecting them successively to the action of an artificially-moved drying agent, and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high. temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

6. The herein-described method of treating lastic material, which method consists in orming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a series of group-sections horizontally beside each other, subjecting each of said sections to an artificially-moved, drying aseous medium while an adjacent grou is eing set, then superposing additiona group sections of such green blocks upon said first group and subjectin them successively to an artificiallymove drying gaseous medium, and then subjecting the entire mass to an intensely heated moving gaseous medium, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

7 The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in being set, then superposing additional groupsections of such green blocks upon said first group and sub'ecting said superposed sections to an arti icially and horizontally moving, drying gaseous medium;. and then subjecting the entire mass ofsaid blocks to an intensely-heated, moving gaseous medium,'substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

8. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting a limited group of said blocks in a chamber, then subjecting said blocks to an artificially warmed and moved,

drying gaseous medium until they are dried sufficiently to resist downward pressuse then setting another limited group of wet'or green blocks of said material upon the first group of such blocks; then subjecting the blocks of said second group to an artificially-warmed,

drying gaseous medium; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to intense heat, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

9. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting a group of said blocks in a chamber and drying said blocks by subjecting them to an artificially warmed and moved, drying gaseous medium; then setting another group of such green blocks upon said first group of blocks and subjecting said group of green blocks to an artificially-' warmed, drying gaseous medium; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to intense. heat, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

10. The herein-described method of-treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state,

into blocks; then successively setting such blocks in a plurality of superposed groups, each successive group being subjected to artificially moved (trying air before another group is set thereon; then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a moving, drying gaseous medium; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a burning heat, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

11. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state,

into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups and isolating said groups with combustible sheet-form material and subjecting each successive group to an artificially-moved, drying gaseous medium before another group 1s set thereon; then eliminating said sheet-form material;

and thereafter subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a heated, gaseous medium, substantially as and for the the purpose here- ,in described.

12. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consistsin forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups and isolating said groups with combustible sheet-form ma terial and subjecting each successive group to an artificially-moved, drying gaseous medium before another group is set thereon; then burning said sheet-form material; and

blocks to a heated gaseous medium, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

13. The herein-described method of treat ing plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups and isolating each group with combustible sheet-form ma terial, each successive group being subjected to an artificially-moved, drying gaseous medium before another group is placed thereon; then eliminating said sheet-form material; then subjecting the. entire mass of said blocks to a higher drying temperature; then subject ing the entire mass to a burning heat, sub stantially as and for the purpose herein described.

14. The herein-described method of treat ing plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in'a plurality of superposed groups and isolating thereafter subjecting the entire .mass of said IOO each group with combustible sheet-form mat'erial, each successivegroup being subjected to an artificially-moved, drying gaseous medium before another group is placed thereon; thenburning said sheet-form material; then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a higher drying temperature; then subjecting the entire mass to a burning heat, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

15. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state,

16. The herein-described method of treata into blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups: each successive group being bet'ore another group is set thereon; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

17. The herein-describeil method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks m a plurality of superposed groups, each successive group being subjected to the action of artificiallymoved air at moderate temperature; then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to the action of products of combustion at modcrate temperature; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially herein described.

18. The herein-described method of treating plastic materia-l, which method consists in I forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; thensetting said blr-cxs in a compartment, in a plurality of super )osed groups; "each successive group being subjected to the action of an artiticially-moved drying agent before another group is set thereon; then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to the action of highly-heated products of combustion; then, While the last-mentioned step is in progress, setting more of said green blocks in a second compartment, in a plurality of superposed groups, each successive group being subjected to the action of the heated gases conducted from said firstmentioned compartment; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks in said second-mentioned compartment to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

19. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method. consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a compartment, in a plurality of super osed groups; each successive grou being so jected to the action of an artificial -movcd drying agent before another group is set thereon then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to the action of highlv-heated products of combustion; then, While the last-mentioned step is in progress, set-ting more of said green blocks in a secondcompartment, in a plurality of superposed groups, each successive grou) being subjected to the action of the products of combustion conducted from said first-mew tioned compartment and then subjecting the entire mass of'said blocks in said second compartment to ahigh temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

subjected to the action of arti I ticially-nu'ived air at moderate temperature as and For the purpose 20. The hereinlescribed method of treat. ing plast ic material, which method consists in forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; setting said blocks in a plurality of j superposed groups and subjecting each sue cessive group to the action of an artilicially j moved drying gaseous medium before another group is set thereon and by stages setting a [lash-wall ol said dried blocks in front f of the groupswhich have been dried: and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially as and g for the purpose herein described. I 21. The hm'ein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material. in the green state, into I blocks; setting said blocks in a plurality of l superposed groups and subjecting each group 4 to the action ol an artilicially-movcd drying j gaseous medicn before another group is set thereon and by stages setting a llashqvall of i said dried blocks in front oi the groups which I have been dried; then subjecting the entire mass of saidblocks to the action of a drying gaseous mcdunn;and then sub ecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose. herein described.

2). The herein-rlescribed method of treating plastic material, which method consists in forming said material, inthe green state, into 5 blocks; then setting said blocks in a plurality otsupcrposctl groups and subjecting cachsuccessiyc group to the action of an artificially and horizontally moving drying gaseous meby stages setting a flash-wall of said dried blocks in front of the groups which have been dried and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high iOlIlPPIzttUlG, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

23. The herein-dcscribed method of treat.- ing plastic material, which method consists in generating a stream of said material, in the green state, severing the material of said stream into blocks and conduct ing said stream into a compartment; setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups and subjecting each successive group to the action of an artilicially-moved drying gaseous medium before another group is set thereon and by stages setting a flash-wall of said llried blocks in front of the groups which have been dried; and then subjecting the entire l'nass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially I as and for the purpose herein described.

1 24. The hcreiu-describeil method ol treatl ing plastic materiahwhich method consists in generating a stream of said material, in

the green state, severing the material of said stream into blocks and conduct ing said st ream into a compartment: setting said blocks in a plurality of superposed groups and subjecting each successive group to the action of an l arti'ticially-moverl horizontallymoving drydium before another group is set thereon and group is being set in the other of said com- 'perature, substantially as and for the purpose ing plastic material, which method consists ing plastic material, which method consists in ing gaseous medium before another group is I set thereon and by stages setting a flash-wall of said dried blocks in front of the groups which have been dried; and then subjectingthe entire mass of said blocks to a high t emherein described. v

25. The herein-described method of treatin generating a stream of said material, in the green state, severing the material of said stream into blocks and conducting said stream into a compartment; setting said blocks within said compartment in a plurality of superposed groups, each successive group being subjected to the action of an artificially-moved drying agent before another group is set thereon; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

26. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in generating a stream of said material, in the green state, severing the material of said stream into blocks and conducting said stream into a compartment; setting said blocks Within said compartment in a plurality of superposed groups, each successive group being subjected totheaction of an artiilcially and horizontally moving drying agent before another'gro'up is set thereon; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

- 27. The herein-described method of treatforming said material, in the green state, into blocks; setting said blocksalternately in a plurality of superposed groups in two compartments, each successive group in the same compartment being subjected to. the action of an artificially-moved drying agent while a partments; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks in each of said compartments to a highternperature, substantially as and for. the purpose herein described.

28. Thehnrcin' described method of treating plastic materiah'which method consists in generating a stream of said material, in the green state, severing, the material of said stream into blocks and conducting .said stream alternately into two compartments; setting said blocks alternately in a pluralityof superposed groups in said compartments, each successive grou in the same compart ment being subjectec to the action of artificially-moved drying agent while a group is being set in the other of said compartments; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks in each of said compartments to a high temperature, substantially as and for the pur ose herein described.

29. he herein-describedi method of treatin plastic material, which method consists in su j e cting a mass of dried blocks of said material to the action of highly-heated gases in a compartment and allowing said mass to cool; then, while said action isproceeding, setting similar blocks alternately in a plurality of su= perposed groups in two other compartments, each successive oup in'the same compartment being sub ected to the .action'of the gases conducted from said first-mentioned compartment; and then subjecting the entire mass of saidblocks in said last two com artments to a high temperature, substantia ly as and for the purpose herein described.

30. The herein-described method of treatecting a mass of dried blocks of said material to the action of highly-heated gases in a compartment and allowing said mass to cool then, while said action is proceeding, setting similar blocks alternately-in a plurality of sueac successive groupin the same compartment being subjected to the action of the gases conducted from said firstmentioned compartment; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks in each of said. last two compartments, to the action or heated gases perplosed groups in two other compartments,

plastic material, which method consists in conducted from another mass of'said blocks and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks in each of said last two compartments to a high temperature, substantially as and for the purpose herein described. I

31. The herein-described method of treating plastic material, which method consists in,

forming said material, in the green state, into blocks; then setting said blocks in a COIIIPEJ'TJ'.

ment-in a plurality of super osed groups, each successive group being su jected' to the action of an artificially moved drying agent before another group is set thereon; then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks to the action of-highly-heated gases and allowing said mass to cool; then, while the last-mentioned step is in progress, setting similar blocks alternately in a plurality of superposed'groups in two other compartments,

each successive group in the same compartment being sub ected tothe action of the heated gases conducted from said first-mentioned compartment; and then subjecting the entire mass of said blocks in each of said lastmentioned compartments to a high temperature, substantially as and; for the'purpose herein described.

4 32. The herein-described methodof treatin plastic material, which method consists in su jecting a mass of said material to the action of highly-heated gases a compartment andfall'owing the same-to cool;,then, while said action is proceedin setting similar blocks alternately' -in a :ura'lity of superposed groups injtwo v0t er-compartments,-

each successive cup in the same com artment being sub ected to the actio'n' o the horizontally-movin gases conducted from name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 7th sag first-melllltione compartil gaentdg glndlghen defy of October, in the year 1905. su 'ectin t e entire mass 0 sei QC s in 7 said last two compartments to a high tem- ALEXANDER ANUERW) MUTE 5 perature, substantially as and for the purpose Witnesses:

herein described. CYRUS KEHR, I11 testimony whereof I have signed my I A. A. SGHMID. 

